This is not for a meal, but a really yummy snack or appetizer. It's call cowboy salsa or texas caviar. Basically you just put cans of rinsed black beans, rinsed black-eyed peas, corn, diced bell peppers, diced onions, diced tomatoes into a bowl. Add Italian dressing and a pinch of garlic salt. Let it sit in the fridge overnight to let the flavors soak in. I sometimes add chopped cilantro and leave out tomatoes. Really, just find a combination you like. You can also add navy beans or any other beans. Serve it with tortilla chips or crackers...he won't even notice the beans!

Have you heard of Silestone countertops? My brother-in-law installs them, and they are supposed to be better than granite. Impossible to scratch, can set dishes from the stove top right onto the countertop. Maybe granite is like this too? I'm not sure, but the silestone is really nice!

Here's a link to the Container Store website. They have some great kitchen and pantry store options, which can help 1) keep food in sight & 2) create space in a small pantry (which was always the case for me and my college roommate.) Good luck!

I like peanut butter on a whole grain waffle with banana slices. I've also spread cream cheese on a wheat tortilla, topped with banana slices, cinammon, and little bit of sugar. Mixing different fruits in my cereal keeps me from getting too bored with it. :O)

I own a small deep fryer that my husband and I use occasionally to fry homemade chips, fries, or onion rings. Otherwise, I sautee or pan fry things. I don't like the mess or the smell grease leaves in my kitchen for days.

I do love this idea! I really love the BBQ chicken and Thai chicken pizzas at California Pizza Kitchen. You can find these frozen in a lot of grocery stores, and they are pretty good. They are a bit smaller than regular pizzas & a bit more expensive, so that might not be the best idea.

I like Madelyn's idea of hiring a culinary student or someone to help with the cooking. I got married this past December, and it get very stressful (and expensive). Hang in there and have a great time!

I'm looking for a good dessert to bring to a casual party/watching a college football game...it needs to be cost efficient, because I'm on a budget these days! I need to feed about 10 people something really yummy. I have a bag of Oreos on hand. :O)

I seem to remember seeing or hearing of recipes for a baked spaghetti casserole using left over spaghetti. Do any of you cook this by chance? If so, can you post a recipe? My husband and I ALWAYS have leftovers.

Tonight I was getting ready to bake some brownies for a work event, and as I was greasing the pan I saw a small hair (maybe even from my dog-yikes!). Luckily, I caught it BEFORE I served it to my colleagues!

I'm a beginning bread baker & want to make a loaf (tonight) for a friend who is sick. I haven't had much time (or luck) to bake from scratch, so I'm about to run out and use a regular boxed mix for the bread.

Can you mix in rosemary or some other seasoning without altering the whole process? Any ideas? Thanks, serious eaters!

So I've always been a picky eater. I recently started a diet with my husband (of 8 months :O) and realized eating a healthy diet eliminates most of what we picky eaters eat. One thing I am trying to eat more of is tomatoes. I like them cooked, in pasta or pizza sauces, but can't quite bring myself to bite right into one in a salad.

I know they are full of nutrients when fresh and have read that lycopene can help reduce the risk of both breast and prostate cancer. Any recipes to introduce this healthful item into my diet?